“The unique and multifaceted relationship between the board and its executive is perhaps the most important relationship leading to organizational success or failure. Like the two partners in a skating competition, each side can either bring out the best in the other or prevent the other from skating well.” [...]
Difficult people are everywhere. Despite one’s best efforts some people are never pleased. But when they are exhibitors at an association event or tradeshow how can they be transitioned from difficult to champion? Practicing the art of WOO or Winning Others Over can help move difficult exhibitors to enthusiastic [...]
In previous articles, I have written about the CSAE CEO Symposium led by Glenn Tecker. I find some of the tools provided at this workshop to be so valuable I keep the workbook on my desk. One of my most referenced tools is the role continuum for the chief [...]
High-performing association board members are busy enough. Volunteer boards put trust into their association staff to maximize efficiencies and make the best use of their time, skills, and knowledge as an expert in their field. The second piece of the puzzle, and how these efficiencies come full circle, involves [...]
Each Board member brings to the Board a special set of skills and life experiences. Volunteering is the lifeblood of not-for-profit associations, and attracting qualified leaders often attracts people that may have conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest with the association they are involved with. So, how [...]
As an association, it’s important to stay relevant, innovative, and invested in the future of our industry. Hiring interns can help an association do just that by helping to bring in a fresh new perspective, provide additional staffing resources, and increase productivity. It also enables the intern to get [...]
Budgets and cashflow analysis are important management tools to allow an association to properly manage their performance, allowing them to plan and make informed decisions relating to planning, resource allocations and funding requirements. Preparing budgets and cashflow forecasts can give you a more realistic measure of where your association [...]
Your association board has been approached to make a statement about Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI/DEI). In feeling the pressure to do something, members of the board create a statement and post it on the association’s website. A group sees this post and starts posting negative comments on social [...]
In today's world, we rely on technology, software, and automation for a lot of our work. It is no different in the association world, and the need for the right software is paramount in how an association is functioning. Software is essential to an accounting department's efficiency, speed of [...]
A learning management system is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, automation, and delivery of educational courses, training programs, or learning and development programs – Wikipedia. An association’s learning management system, also called LMS, can be an important part of your member recruitment and retention. The [...]
